Font size:
Print
Healthy Longevity and NCDs
Context:
The World Bank’s recent report, Unlocking the Power of Healthy Longevity: Demographic Change, Non-communicable Diseases, and Human Capital (2024), highlights a demographic shift marked by an ageing population and rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
More on News
- Currently, NCDs are the leading cause of death in LMICs, and this trend is expected to grow.
- Global deaths are projected to rise from 61 million in 2023 to 92 million by 2050, largely due to NCDs, increasing demand for hospitalisation and long-term care.
- The report suggests that with targeted health improvements, 25 million annual deaths could be averted by 2050, aiding in meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Healthy Longevity Initiative (HLI)
- To address this, the World Bank proposes a Healthy Longevity Initiative (HLI) using a life-course approach to reduce preventable deaths and disability, enhance well-being into older age, and support a brief, manageable end-of-life period.
- However, achieving this ideal in LMICs, particularly India, remains challenging due to disparities in healthcare access, workforce quality, and funding.
- The reality of underfunded healthcare, exploitative practices, and logistical hurdles contrasts starkly with the envisioned HLI world.
India’s Elderly Population and NCDs
- India has the world’s second-largest elderly population, with 140 million people aged 60 and above.
- The elderly population growth rate in India is nearly three times the general population growth rate, increasing the urgency of managing NCDs.
- The prevalence of NCDs—cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory illnesses, and diabetes—has surged from 40% of deaths in 1990 to a projected 75% by 2030, impacting families, economic growth, and government resources.
Social Security Schemes and NCD Prevalence
- Data from the India Human Development Survey (2015) and the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017-18) reveal that even small pensions help elderly Indians manage healthcare costs, yet hospital visits for chronic conditions often lead to high out-of-pocket expenses, debt, and financial strain.
- While health insurance mitigates costs, limited awareness, documentation issues, and claims rejection prevent its full benefit.
Lifestyle and Dietary Risks
- Diets high in refined grains increase coronary risk, while high red meat and rice consumption elevate diabetes and heart disease risks.
- Obesity, age, sedentary lifestyles, and high-calorie diets further compound these risks, with Indians experiencing type 2 diabetes at younger ages and lower BMI levels than Western populations.
Impact of Ayushman Bharat Scheme
- The Ayushman Bharat Scheme, intended to provide health coverage to the bottom 40% of Indian households, has faced challenges like inadequate funding, corruption, and bureaucratic delays, as highlighted by the 2023 CAG report.
- Despite its potential, the scheme’s effectiveness remains limited by eligibility issues and systemic inefficiencies.
- Quality healthcare also depends on infrastructure, personnel, and cultural factors.
Regulating Hospital Costs
- Private hospitals in India are often criticised for inflated healthcare costs.
- In response, the Supreme Court directed the government in 2024 to set price benchmarks for hospital procedures, recognising that price caps can regulate costs if enforcement is consistent.
Promoting Healthy Behaviours
- Behavioural changes, including physical activity and balanced diets, are vital but challenging.
- Obesity, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, requires interventions such as product taxation to promote healthier choices.
- Limiting tobacco use would have broad public health benefits, though comprehensive reduction in NCDs will require extensive policy action.
